During our unit on pollinators and local environmental changes, I wanted my Year 4 students to understand how urban development has impacted the natural landscape over time. To do this, we used Apple Numbers to create a dynamic, interactive comparison of Harrisdale from the 1950s to today.
The activity began with a timelapse video showing Harrisdale’s transformation from a natural landscape to a bustling suburb. Students were immediately engaged as they saw how their local area had changed. Using a Numbers scaffold I created, students explored various historical and modern maps of Harrisdale, carefully analyzing the shifts in natural, built, and water areas.
The scaffold guided students through color-coding squares on a grid map of Harrisdale, categorizing areas as natural, built, or water. They then counted the squares and entered their results into a table within Numbers. To ensure accuracy and reinforce the learning, I integrated conditional formatting into the table, allowing students to check their answers instantly, making data entry both engaging and self-correcting.
The next step was to visualize this data. Students used the data they collected to populate graphs within Numbers, comparing the distribution of land use across the different time periods. This hands-on activity allowed students to see clear visual representations of the data, sparking discussions on how these changes could affect local pollinators.
Finally, students interpreted their findings by answering a series of guided questions, linking their observations back to the impact on pollinators. This reflection helped them connect the historical data to the real-world consequences on the environment and local ecosystems.
Sharing this project with my students allowed them to engage deeply with data in a meaningful way, connecting technology with real-world environmental issues. It showcased the power of Numbers not just as a tool for calculations but as a platform for exploration, analysis, and storytelling.
September 09, 2024
Such an innovative way to use numbers. This project could be adapted to use in so many communities. Thank you for sharing this. Can't wait to show it to teachers in my area.
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